LONDON — Brexit negotiations will begin on Monday
morning despite a widening Cabinet rift over Britain's
negotiating aims and growing doubts about the future of prime
minister Theresa May.

Brexit Minister David Davis will this morning meet with chief EU
negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels for the first day of
what he described as "historic" talks that will set Britain on
the road to leaving the EU.

"Today marks the start of negotiations that will shape the future
of the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the lives of
our citizens," he is expected to say.

Brexit Minister David Davis.REUTERS/Neil Hall

"While there is a long road ahead, our destination is clear — a
deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU. A deal
like no other in history."

The early stages of the talks are expected to focus
on Britain's 'divorce' from the EU, the future of
EU citizens living in the UK, and the Northern Ireland border.
Talks on Britain's future relationship with the bloc are to
be held back until later in the year.

At a press conference held before negotiations begin, Davis said
"we are starting this negotiation in a positive and constructive
tone."

Responding to Barnier's call to "tackle the uncertainties caused
by Brexit," Davis said that "there is more that unites us than
divides us," between the UK and its "closest allies in Europe."

The negotiations begin despite May yet failing to have agreed a
deal with the DUP to support her government's Queen's Speech next
week. It also comes as May faces open criticism from senior
Cabinet members about her failed election campaign and growing
pressure to drop her plans for a "Hard Brexit," which would see
Britain leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union.

Both Davis and May remain committed to plans to crash out of the
EU if no deal is secured in two years, saying that "no deal is
better than a bad deal."

May's foreign secretary Boris Johnson has insisted
previously that such an outcome would be "perfectly ok."

The letter from the British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation
of British Industry, EEF, Federation of Small Businesses, and
Institute of Directors, calls on the government to accept
continued membership of the Single Market and Customs union until
any new trade deal is signed and implemented — a process that
trade experts suggest could take up to a decade.

May
reportedly faces "civil war" inside her Cabinet, over whether
she should continue with her hardline position on Brexit. Senior
members are believed to want May to ditch her pre-election
negotiating stance. However, other senior figures have threatened
to force a vote of no confidence in her leadership if the
plans are watered down.

May's chancellor Philip Hammond became the first
distanced himself from May's hardline position yesterday,
saying that crashing out of the EU without a deal would be "very,
very bad" for Britain.

In a scathing attack on May's failed election
campaign, Hammond also told the Andrew Marr Show that he had
been prevented from selling the government's record on the
economy.

"It was a mistake for the campaign not to focus more on an area
where we have a great story to tell — our record on the economy,”
he said. “I think it was a mistake that we didn’t spend more time
and resources taking apart Jeremy Corbyn’s economic proposals and
his spending plans, which are frankly incredible and would do
enormous damage to this country, to our jobs, to our economy. I
think that was a mistake."

May has been told she has just over a week to recover her
position, or face a leadership challenge, according to a report
in the Sunday Times.

Labour ahead in new poll

It comes as a new poll puts Labour three points ahead of the
Conservatives. According to the Survation poll, Labour has
44% of the public's support, ahead of the Conservatives on 41%.